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SSNT Announces Collaboration with Hands on Health Australia

20/07/2016

Southern School of Natural Therapies (SSNT), has joined forces with Hands on Health Australia to provide a pathway for students and graduates to gain valuable volunteering experience in Australia and overseas.

Hands on Health Australia, which has fully endorsed SSNT, provides health services to the unwell, unemployed, disabled, elderly and disadvantaged, delivering 10,000 treatments through the collective efforts of up to 500 professionals. The organization has two volunteer community clinics in Australia and four international treatment and training programs. The collaboration between SSNT and Hands on Health Australia offers a clear pathway to volunteer overseas – offering SSNT students an invaluable opportunity to gain an edge through providing health services in community clinics internationally.

Rotana Cheng, 34, SSNT alumni and myotherapist with Hands on Health Australia, spearheaded the relationship between the two organizations, saying: “Volunteering is absolutely critical to Hands on Health but it can be difficult for students and graduates to find a way to put their skills to practical use in a relevant capacity to hone their skillset and stand out in today’s competitive jobs market. Working with SSNT facilitates volunteering and employment opportunities via a structured pathway that will mean greater opportunities for students and graduates when it comes to employment and being ‘job ready’.”

“On a personal level, being able to draw on the clinical practice and international exposure that were major parts of my studies at SSNT was immensely helpful in securing a position with Hands on Health Australia,” Mr. Cheng added.

The first SSNT student to volunteer with Hands on Health is Tayla Agosta, 25, who is studying a Bachelor of Health Science (Clinical Myotherapy) and is currently volunteering in rural India providing health services alongside local traditional healers. Agosta received the opportunity to volunteer overseas through SSNT and was attracted to the experience given it is specifically designed to provide valuable insight into the type of work she is keen to undertake following completion of her studies at SSNT.

Locally, SSNT’s clinics provide affordable health services to the public across three locations in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane while enabling students to undertake hands-on treatment practice in areas including naturopathy, nutrition, traditional Chinese medicine, western herbal medicine, clinical myotherapy, counselling and massage.

“A primary focus of all Laureate Australia institutions, including SSNT, is to create genuine opportunities for our students to gain relevant, hands-on experience as part of their education, assisting them to practice, build important technical and soft skills and grow their network of industry connections,” explains Kath Curry, General Manager and Dean, Health, Laureate Australia. “This enhances our students’ overall experience to ensure they are highly employable when they graduate.”